Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-02-19
WHATJOHN BROWN SAYS
Why the Red Cross Society C0ntsnted
Itssii with the Individual Sab.
scripiion from Miss Barton.
Thousands are Waiting to See If They are
to be Given Seed, Otherwise They
Must Leave the Country.

! ALBANY, TEN, Feb. Il, 1887
To the Editor of the Gazette:
Miss Clara Barton, President of the
Red Cross Society has come, investigated
the drouth suffering, gave subscription
from her own private purse and left.
That she believed there was a great
drouth in Northwest Texas before she
came. and consequent suffering she as
sured me. She wanted, however, to see
for herself, and what she has seen, when
she tells it, viii be believed by the public
in spite of al the contradictions Of SIN
ners. l offered to tsse her through
Young, Jack, Wise, Palo Pinto, East!and
and other counties, but sitter witnessing
the condition of things in Stephens and
norton of SlaCkelfOrd she was satisfied
end did not wish to see any more. Hav-
ling seen enough of the distress the ques-
jtion with her was, how to relieve? There
I were great difficulties IN the way. The
\ railroads would not admit free into Texas
the Rid Cross cars with the necessaries
for relief Everywhere else in the United
States they are passed over the various
rails IS deadhead. This to her mind was
as it undoubtedly Isl very serious OBJ
st2cle. This, however, could have been
got over. The opposition, too, on the
psrt OF some individuals which | need not
mention, and portion of the press of
Texas was another difficulty. She did
not care to be slandered and misrep
resented as | was. This, however, would
not have hindered her in case the way
was clear otherwise. The greatest OF all
difficulties lay in the fact that our great
state is so rich, and so capable to
take care OF its own poor and
destitute people under calamity like
the present Our Legislature being in
session, our state Treasury full and
running over, and by far the greatest
portion of our state being untouched by
the drouth, made the efforts of the Red
Cross unnecessary. She could not con-
Scienciously ask otner states, not as well
fixed as we are financially, to come to
our aid. All will see and appreciate her
feelings. The question then comes 10,
will Texas do her duty? Our Legis-
lature has given 500, 600 with which to
purchase meal and -four for those in
absolute need Of food, but nothing more.
The construction put upon the Dill of
relief is such that perhaps not more than
one half who ought to get even this
meagre aid will do so. This, then, being
the only kind of relief granted, il
would now be great deal better
to give the amount donated to
purchase railroad tickets and so help
these people back where they came from
Miss Barton believed that if the CHART
able people Of Texas were informed OF
the true situation they would at once
contribute grains for spring sowing, and
l. which are now in positive demand. Will
= they do il? l hope in my heart they will.
but | do not believe it. Those able tC
give, along the borders OF the droutt
d region, especially in the cities of For
Worth, Dallas and other cities near by
: have been giving all last summer anC
fall. Aud then, too, because OF the droutt
in the northwest, merchants and other!
usually liberal, cannot, if they would
J. The people of the coast cities have hGC
n their own calamitles, and as for the grea
i majority Of the people down through
o central Texas, they are so muddled il
5 mind by the various conflicting reports
= as to the necessity for any aid, that but
= little, think, can be expected of them.
n There ought to have been right here now
e ct least 250, 900 bushels of corn, oats
e millet, etc, for free dirtribution. We
0 have had good rams lately and the
: ground is now in condition to plow, bu
e thousands are standing idle waiting tc
t, see il they are to be given seed, other
j. wise they will have to leave the country
e do not feel that it would
1t be great shame to the state
II of Texas to allow them to go
The commissioners, now out distributing
Z fthe 500, 900 grant, find everywhere they
:. 90 the same cry for spring seeds. When
s l was in Austin l urged and beseeched
the Legislature to give enough for the
purchase Of grain for the work stock ant
c. EtsF spring seeds, as well as for food and
5 kelothing, but my appeals were in vain
n Therefore, seeing that hut little mea
n and -four We're to be given, appealed &c
e the Red Cross in the belief that it would
give what our Legislature failed to give
but with what r. suits your readers now
know, and the reasons for the failure.
6sk, is il not possible for the Legislature
/ to comprehend the situation, and with
@ out delay pass another bill for the pur
& chase of seed grains? 1t alone can now
r adequately give relief in this respect.
Z. believe in my soul were the drouu
-, stricken farmers given seeds and grail
b for their work stocks, many of them, g
least, would pay back to the state treas
d ury bushel for bUShel, or its equivalent
It in cash next fall. Anyhow, even if the
Gid not, few hundred thousand dollars
d now given to those who need assistance
o to put in the ground spring grains
n would be millions to the sta.t
n before the rext five years
n The penny-wise and pound foolisl
& policy will curse any state, but ours abov'
:, any other, for many things are peculiar t
& US and demand that we deal LIBERAL.
u with those whom we induce to occupy
our vast lands. AS state we have de-
}. barred ourselves from consistent fedora
n aid in case of such calamities as the pres
l. ent by keeping to ourselves every acre O
land within our borders. The Congress
of the United States may well, therefore
Il say t. us when We have famine: $50 Il
= your own crib" But if our own "erib'
is locked against the approach of the dis
tressed tillers of the soil then they ar,
helpless indeed; and more especially 81
10 when 10000 heartless idiots are cryins
i themselves hoarse around them that Their,
PTS no distress and no need OF relief
Il Texas had a golden opportunity lately t,
- show to the world that she was great il
> every sense. 1t is not quite clean gon.
vet, and if she realizes 1t in time snC